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Business Degrees & Careers

Are you inspired to one day own and operate your own business? Or do you see yourself as having the potential to lead and manage other in a business setting? Pursuing a degree in business administration may be the first step to attaining your business career goals.

One of the primary purposes of business administration is to preside over daily operations of an organization to ensure that things are running smoothly, efficiently, and profitably.

What does a business administrator do?

Because the field is so diverse, it can be hard to pin down an all-encompassing answer to the question “What does a business administrator do?” However, if you’re interested in a career in business administration, you may be surprised to learn that it’s not unusual for top executives to get their start in less glamorous areas like office administration, hospitality, and retail. The managerial skills that you cultivate in these industries are often easily applied to other business environments and at higher levels as a person’s career progresses.

A general business administrator job description would likely include some of the following:

Create and execute organizational goals, policies and procedures

Manage and analyze product-making or service related activities

Oversee a company’s finances and budget

Spearhead the implementation of new technologies

Hire and/or manage departments and staff

Create or approve contracts and other agreements

Identify cost-cutting and performance-improving initiatives

What are ideal skills and traits should a business administrator have?

You may already know this, but one of the most important qualities a business administrator should have is strong leadership abilities. Being an effective communicator is also essential, as a large part of this job likely involves interacting with others. You also need to be comfortable with taking on responsibility and being accountable for both yourself and your employees.

In terms of technical and personal skills, you should strive to excel at:

Reading, writing and speaking

Attention to detail

Ability to multi-task

Good time management

Staying organized

Computer and IT (information technology)

Planning and record keeping

Accounting/budgeting

Analytics/decision-making

Staying patient and level-headed

What does it take for a business school to become accredited?

Accreditation indicates that a college or university upholds high quality standards as established by an accrediting agency, such as AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Accredited business schools must meet criteria in areas such as curriculum, faculty, diversity, and professional opportunities.

With business administration degrees and most degrees, it is important to seek out a business administration program at a school that is accredited because those schools are often able to provide the best resources for students seeking career opportunities. Not only that, employers may prefer to hire graduates from accredited schools.

How can I find out if a business school is accredited?

This information can almost always be found on your prospective business school’s website. An admissions officer or representative from the school should also be able to confirm accreditation. Finally, you can contact the accrediting agency or visit its website to learn more.

What jobs could I pursue with these different business administration degrees?

There is a great deal of overlap in the material covered by the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) degrees, and depending on your area of concentration, experience, and goals, you may be able to pursue pretty much any business career path you choose. That said, each degree type offers different areas of focus and preparation. Check out just a few possible career options that you may want to pursue if you earn a degree in business administration:

How much money do people in business earn?

As with any job, whom you work for and how many years of experience you have will influence how much you could earn, among many other factors. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the median annual salaries for these professions, as well as other jobs you may be able to pursue after earning an online business management degree